I've just started roaccutane

[Roaccutane]

And I thought I'd document how I do on it so it helps others making a decision about whether to try it or not.

I've suffered with acne & rosacea all my adult life & have exhausted gp options. A few years ago I had severe depression so I had some worries about starting roaccutane.

I'm a few days in and too early for side effects but I've stocked up on moisturiser and am keeping out the sun.

I had it for several months. The face peeling is horrendous. I also struggled with pain in the joints of my feet.

However, it made a huge difference to my acne so I don’t regret taking it.

15 years later, I’m still super sensitive to the sun. And wear factor 50+. Even in the UK.

Good luck OP! I’ve taken it 3 times in my life and it’s helped each time but plateaued and never got completely clear sadly,

The most recent time (early 40s) I did experience low mood, almost depression so watch out for that. Felt so much better after I stopped.

Wishing you all the best OP. I took it and it worked miracles. Now in peri and having some hormonal flare ups but nothing like it used to be.

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. Vaseline can be useful on a cotton bud for the inside of your nose. Be VERY careful of the sun.

I also lost my night vision! Couldn’t see at all once it got slightly dark but it came back!

Thanks!
I regularly wear factor 50 on face and decollatage so I don't mind if I have to continue that afterwards but thanks for the warning!

I've bought some intensive cereve moisturiser, moisturising face spray for using when out and cereve factor 50 which is richer than I can usually use on my face so fingers crossed.

I'm thinking about getting a big hat too 😄

Didn't realise the inside of my nose will peel 😳

I was wearing factor 30 yesterday & tanned a lot so not going out again until I've got a new bottle of factor 50 for legs & arms!

Your nose might not of course but mine did and lots of people I met at the clinic!

Remember your whole body will go dry not just your face so get some good creams or butters for the neck down too!

Oh good luck. I’ve had it 3 times in my life and the skincare advice thankfully has changed much in that time. Get some gentle skincare in. I like dr jarts barrier repair and they have a spray as well. Factor 50 spf is a must. The insides of my nose didn’t peel but my lips were a state. I’m not sure they ever really recovered. I like the blisteze cream in a metal tube and laneige.
it worked miracles for me, life changing.

I actually didn’t get particularly dry skin or nose… Lips yes. Burts Bees intensive night balm was my favourite, I used it all day not just night.

It worked amazingly well for my dd. She didn’t have too many issues with it except for very dry lips.

I was on it as a teen and suffered nose bleeds due to dry membranes, so not peeling but thin tissues there so just be careful if you feel that "trickle" feeling a grab a tissue quick! If you become prone.

My lips were bad. Lanisoh nipple balm. The tube lasts forever. I still use it now in winter weather.

I was on it as a teen - used Blistex for my lips and Astral on my face.

Used this in my 30’s
with regards to my acne it worked wonders and my skin has been clear since.
I had joint pain subsequently that I blamed on roaccutane- might’ve been perimenopause.
Also skin thinning especially my décolletage.
Loved the effect on my lanky hair- unfortunately that only lasted as long as I was taking the drug, but it did rid me of the fallacy that I had greasy hair due to overwashings etc.

It helped me so much. Skin is still much better 5 years on. I just had very dry lips, Vaseline made hardly any difference so bought some stuff called I think eucerin. Good luck. It’s made me more confident and able to look people in the eye more.

I didn’t find the side effects too bad but when they say you’re dry everywhere I mean EVERYWHERE. It takes a while but near the end my I needed eye drops and Replens.

Bepanthen is also good and cheaper than lanisloh

Thank you for the tips! I'm carrying some tissues, hopefully no nosebleeds!

Lips feeling dry today.

My nose is also super oily and combined with the heat, its feeling really gross - any advice for how I can manage it with gentle products?

I haven't had an oily nose since before I started medical treatment years ago and can't remember what I used to use now!

So the dryness has definitely kicked in!
My face isn't yet worse than it gets during the winter but boy are my lips feeling dry!

I'm using my usual box of tricks which is helping so far but I still need to keep on top of moisturising:

Coconut oil (only use on my face when it's very dry & sensitive and I think its getting there)
Vaseline
Beeswax/royal jelly balm for my lips

I'm also exfoliating gently in the evenings and will continue as long as my skin tolerates it. The coconut oil is keeping my body moisturised so its just my face that needs management right now!

My eyes have started feeling dry too so need to get some eyedrops.

I was on accutane and then left it because it was so harsh for my skin and then started with tret. Here goes my routine:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
Garnier spf
Evening:
Cerave moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel

Hi OP, how are you getting on with it now?
I've previously turned down Roaccutane but my acne is now the worst it's ever been so I'm going to ask my GP for a dermatologist referral with a view to getting a prescription.

@RoseandBubbles fairly well but haven't taken it consistently! Had a 6 week gap after my first month because I mentioned I'd felt low for a few days and they wouldn't re-prescribe until I'd seen the Dr and there was a wait for apts.

I've also been off it over December because the department lost my consent form and messed up the in-person appointment where we'd arranged for me to redo it etc etc

Am about to start my 3rd non-consecutive month at a slightly increased dose. So far the dryness has been the biggest issue but I was prepared for that so we'll see how January goes. Overall there's still been an improvement in my acne even with the long breaks between prescriptions.

They're definitely hot on making sure I'm OK while taking it, which is actually pretty reassuring. I'd say don't be afraid to give it a go 🤞

I took it in my twenties and it was life changing. More than ten years later I’ve never had more than the odd pimple. The peeling for me was terrible on my scalp and lips. Emollient shampoos and washes like e45/oilatum and bio oil helped. Hope it goes well for you

I guess that answers one of my questions in that case. I get my hair highlighted every other month, I'm presuming that will need to stop?
How long does the dryness last? Is it just whilst you're taking it?

@RoseandBubbles yes for me it's just while taking it but on the lowest dose it hasn't been too bad. Might be worth discussing with your hairdresser?

I also took this in my mid/late 20's and it absolutely changed my life.
For the first time in my life I could wash my hair once a week.
Lips and the inside of my nose has horrific but other than that I managed with a decent moisturizer. In now early 40's and only had a few spots since. It gave me so much confidence to have clear skin for the first time in my life. I always looked young so having acne into my 20's really added to that. Not helpful when you are a teacher and everyone thinks you're the TA!
Best of luck x

Me too, but in my late teens. The dry skin and lips is a pain for 6 months, but persevere.

I was prescribed Roaccutane in my late 40's. Best thing I ever did for my skin. It's still great now almost 7 years later. I also loved only having to wash my hair once a week. That was a glorious side effect long since gone. 😄

Anyone suffering with dry lips and nose should try Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm for Dry Cracked Skin. It literally repairs everything overnight. I used it consistently throughout the day and liberally at night and never suffered from cracked skin at all.

www.boots.com/eucerin-aquaphor-soothing-skin-balm-40ml-10131555?srsltid=AfmBOor97QGAcV8vEx66rV7lCdsAj_e58cpoEu-TXKIr-BDpUkGSHaWy